Collapsible container



Nov. 2, 1937. G. A. TROST COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1936 [Ill Fg gy.

1N VEN TOR.

GUSTA ME A. T?

Nov. 2, 1937. 5. A. TROST COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1956 INVENTOR. GusTA v.;' A. Tees 7- Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y comiii'fi sn GustaveA. Trost, San

Francisco Calif., assignor to Fleishhacker Paper Box Company, San Francisco calif a corporation of California Application September 14, 1936, Serial No. 100,692 a (c1. 22941) p The present invention relates generallyto boxes of the cardboard type, and more particularly to a box of the termed foldable, knockdown or collapsible, which is constructed from a one piece blank.

An object of the invention is to provide a box that can be quickly and economically constructed, and which will fold flatly and be capable of use for various purposes in a simple and convenient manner. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding box constructed from a single blank which can be expeditiously changed from a collapsed to an erected condition or vice versa in an expeditious manner,

Another object of the inventionis to provide a foldable box wherein the folds reenforce and rigidly stay the corners and thus produce a box. which will withstand rough, usage, and when filled will not disengage at the corners, as fre quently occurs with prior art boxes of this character, i

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for a foil lined box which is particularly suited to the shipment of moisture containing articles, such as flowers and the like.

With the above and other objects in view, my

invention consists in certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be in part evident to those skilled in the art, and in part more particularly pointed out hereinafter. i

In the accompanyingdrawings. wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of llmitation, a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure l is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with this invention in its closed condition, p v

Figure 2 is a developed plan view of a blank cut and scored in accordance with the present invention, V

Figure 3 is a view showing the blank of 'Figure 2, partially folded and in its so-called collapsed position, v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the bottom forming and of the box blank in its partially erected position, u Figure 5 shows the entire blank with the bottom portion of the box fully erected and the cover forming portion partially rotated into its box closing position, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, showing the box blank as it approaches its final closed and locked condition.

As shown in Figure 1, the box, designated by type and style generally top the foil is thereof,

portion l5,

of the box forming blank there the numeral II, constructed in accordance with this invention, is of rectangular shape, having a and bottom, two sides and two ends which are formed from a single blank, and when folded provide a completely enclosed rectangular space. The box l0 can be made of any foldable material, such as cardboard or the like, but where the box is to be used in the shipment of articles containing'jmoisture, such as flowers, fruits, vegetables or like articles, I preferably construct the box with a blank having a metal foil suitably attached to the side thereof, which forms the inside of the box. Such a box will be found to be impervious to any contained moisture, and as a result the boxwill last longer than will a box which without the foil lining would absorb moisture and become weakened. For lightness I prefer to use an aluminium foil which can be ad- 'llesively attached to" the cardboard stock from box forming blank is to be cut. when i applied to the material in this manner it willi'ollow the folded surfaces and produce a container which will also have improved heat insulating properties. Thislatter advantage is attributable mainly to the heat reflecting character oi the metal foil.

As shownin Figure 2 of the drawings, the one pieceblankfrom which the box to is to be made, is cut" and scored so as to form a bottom portion wall forming portions II at each side and also a top portion lit with side forming portions It at the sides thereof. Between the top and bottom portions ii and ii there is an which the end forming portion l5 andat the outer right hand end of the blank there isa second end forming portion it from which there extends an that is adapted to be stapled upon the end portion I, as will hereinafter appear. At the ends of the portion It the blank is scored to complete a rectangular outline at these corners of the blank, and extending outwardly in these rectangles there is provided a diagonal-scored line It. Along the sides of the blank and at the ends of the intermediate end the blank is notched out as at I9 and scored lines are extended inwardly from these notches to the corners of the top and bottom, portions II and 13. At the left hand end i is a central or top closing flap III which is adapted to project at its corners into slots 2| cut in the end forming portion It and at the end of each side forming portion I! there is a similar but smaller box closing flap 22.

As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, after is received by 2 the box forming blank has been cut and scored as above described, the side wall forming portions l2 and I4 are iolded inwardly upon the bottom and top portions II and I3 and the end flap I1 is stapled upon the inside of the end forming portions IS in overlapping relation with the diagpnally scored end portions of the sides l2. This is the condition in which the collapsible box constructed in accordance with' this invention is delivered to a customer by the box manufacturer.

when the collapsed box blank described above a customer and is about to be erected for use, the end forming portion I6 is elevated to its vertical position and the side forming portions i2 are thereby caused to raise, as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings. As the end forming portion it is brought into its final vertical position, the flap iorming portion l1, because oi its stillness, will snap down over the fold formed by the diagonal lines It at the corners of the blank and this portion of the box will be secured in its erected position.

Upon reierringto Figure 5 oi the drawings, it will be seen that after the above operation has been completed, the box may be closed by folding the top forming portion II and the end forming portion i5 clockwise over the box forming portion formed by the previously described operation. During this operation the diagonally scored and notched portions I! at the ends of the end forming portion I! will told inwardly so as to cause the three triangular portions to interlock and secure the box in its erected position at these corners.

To finally close the box as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, it is then only necessary to bring the top portion I 3 into its'closed position and project the corners of the tab II into the slots 2|, after which the closure tabs 22 can be inserted into the. recess formed at the corners of the box by the in-iolded triangular portions formed by the diagonal scoring lines I. previously described.

- described.

As shown in this figure oi the drawings, one corner of the box has been fully closed, and as a final closing operation itis now only necessary to insert the remaining corner of the tab 20 into the remaining slot 2! and then by springing the side it outwardly, the tab 22 can be inserted into the triangular recess provided by the inwardly disposed fold formed by the scoring ll, as above when the box is folded and the end tab 20 has been inserted in the slots II and the tabs have been inserted into the side recesses, the box will be firmly held in its closed position without requiring any additional wrapping or tying, as is generally necessary with boxes of this character. It the box is constructed of foil lined blank, it will be seen that'the box will provide a substantially wateretizh container up to the point where apex of the triangular portions l9 projects into the sides oi the box.

It will be obvious that the invention may be modified in many ways, and all such modifications as tall within the terms of the appended claims are considered as falling within the scope of the'invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A blank for a collapsible box of the character described comprising a single rectangular blank having longitudinally and transversely extending score lines forming the top and bottom areas of a box and cover, an iniolded and se-: cured fiap at the box forming end of said blank, diagonal scored lines extending outwardly from the corners of the box bottom defining a corner told disposed beneath said flap when the sides of the blank are folded thereunder, a notched and diagonally scored portion in the sides of said blank between the bottom and top forming areas thereof adapted to interfold and form corners of the connecting ends of the box and cover, a closure fiap upon the cover forming area adapted to be inserte'd'in slots formed in the first formed end of said box, and a tab extending outwardly at the end of each side adjacent said closure flap adaptedto be inserted in the fold formed by the diagonal scored lines terminating beneath the infolded and secured flap first above described to lock the cover forming area over the box form ing area when the box is closed.

2. A blankfor a collapsible box of the character described, comprising a one piece rectangular blank having two longitudinally and four transversely extending score lines forming the top, bottom, ends and sides of a box and cover, an infolded .and secured fiap at the box forming end of said blank under which the sides and corner folds of the box forming portion of the blank are disposed, a. notched and diagonally scored portion in the sides of said blank between the bottom and top forming areas thereof adapted to interfold and form the corners at the hinged end of the box and cover, a closure fiapupon the cover forming area be inserted in slots end of said box when formed, and a tab extending outwardly at the end of each side adjacent said fiap adapted to be inserted into the diagonal corner folds disposed under the inturned and secured flap first above described to lock the cover forming area over the box forming area when the box is closed.

3. A one piece box blank having longitudinally and transversely extending score lines forming sides, ends and spaced bottom and top forming areas of the box, a diagonal scoring at the outer end of the box forming portion permitting an inward folding at this corner of the blank, an inwardly secured fiap at the adjacent end of the blank adapted to engage said inwardly folded portions and hold the end and side walls oi the box in an erected position, notched and diagonally secured areas adjacent the space between the top and bottom forming areas adapted to interfold and form an erected corner for the remaining corners of the box when the cover forming area is ioided thereover, a closure flap at the outer end .of said cover forming area adapted to be inserted at its corners into slots formed in the first erected end of the box, and a locking tab upon each side of the cover forming portion adapted to be projected into the recess formed by the first diagonally infolded portion to lock the cover forming area over the box formed as described.

' GUSTAVE A. TROST. 

